Controlling means for electric circuits.



J. K. LUX.

CONTROLLING MEANS FOR ELECTRIC omcm'rs.

APPLIOAIION FILED APB.26, 1906. Patented Deep/6 2 BHHETSBHEET 1.

J. K.- LUX.

CONTROLLING MEANS FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 26, 1906.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

L Q'V ENTOR 0M 4. I v

WITNESSES 1+ awu.

J'ULIUS K. LUX, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CONTROLLING MEANS FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

Application filed April 26, 1906. Serial No. 313,836.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J U'LIt s K. LUx, a citizen of the United States,residing-at St.

Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Controlling Means for Electric Circuits.

My invention relates to improvements in electric switches, and itconsists in the constructions, combinations, and arrangements hereindescribed and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide an electric switch operatingwith a minimum of friction, and which is capable of actuation with aquick, snap action with a minimum of shock.

A further object of my invention is to pro-' vide an electric switchcapable of being brought to a position of eflicient contact by arelativelysmall actuating force, and which shall be durable andinexpensive in construction.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part oft-his application and inwhich similar reference symbols indicate corresponding parts in theseveral views: Figure 1, illustrates my invention embodied in adoublebrcak snap switch; Fig. 2, is a plan view of the constructionshown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3, is a view similar to Fig. 1, with theswitch in open position. Figs. 4 and are detailed views of a portion ofthe mechanism, partly broken away. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the coilspring showing the housing in section.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates a base. preferably formed ofsuitable insulating material, and carrying fixed contacts B and C,provided with bindin posts B and C for attaching, the ends E C of conilactors.

A support D, carried by the base A, provides bearings for the severalmovable elements of the device. Movable contacts G and l are journaledat G in the support D,

and provided with a bearing for rotatably.

receiving a trunnion screw M, which latter is jonrnaled in the bearingD. The screw Mk is provided with threads for engaging a threaded opgningin the operating handle E, to rigidly secure. said handle thereto.

A spur-"toothed element L is arranged on the operating means E inoperative engagement with a spur gear K. The gear K is secured to adouble-crank shaft F, F, F, which crank isjournaled at F and F in thesupport D,-and constitutes a tensioning gieans for a plurality ofactuating springs A plate H, provided with a stiffening flange H isshown secured to the movable contacts G, I, and provided at its rearportion with an upwardly extending flange G and with a downwardlyextending flange G The actuating spring...J is connected to the crank Fand to the downwardly extending flange G and the spring J is similarlyconnected to the crank F and the upwardly extending flange G Fig. 1shows said connection of the spring J to its flange GK located above theconnection of the spring J to its flange G and also at a less distancefrom the pivotal support of the movable contact than is such connectionof the spring J to its flange G By this construction, the tension of thespring J decreases more rapidly than that of the spring J during theopening swing of the movable contact, and the tension of the spring J iswholly relieved before the movable contact reaches the end of itsopening swing, thus producing a greater aggregate tension or force inclosing the switch than in opening the same. This arrangement of theactuating springs enables the spring J to be made sufficiently strongand heavy to insure an efiicient closing of the switch, withoutproducing an excessive shock in the opening swing of the movablecontact. The frictional engagement of the movable contact with the fixedcontacts B and C constitutes a yielding resistance which acts to ablecontact forgiving it an initial movement. Suitable stops D, D areprovided for'limiting the opening and closing movement of the operatinghandle E.

A conductor N is. secured by a binding post N to a support N, whichcarries a housing N for a flexible conductor N'of in N and conductor Nresilient material similar to that shown in my pending application No.327,159, filed July 21, 1906.

I have shown the flexible conductor N coiled in the housing N* andhaving one end secured in electrical circuit with said hous- The otherend of said coiled conductor is shown extending in the axis of thepivotal support of the movable contact, and having its end portionformed radially for attachment to a binding screw N on said movablecontact. This arrangement of the flexible contact obviates frictionalrubbing and danger of entanglement thereof during the swing of themovable contact.

The flexible contact can be so arranged that it will be free from stresswhen the binding screw N is substantially at the mid portion of itstravel. This arrangement insures an equal but opposite stress in thecoil of the flexible conductor for the two extreme positions of themovable contact, and causes the conductor to constitute a resilientmeans acting to accelerate the movement of the movable contact duringthe initial portion of its swing andto retard such movement during thelatter portion of its swing; this retarding action during the latterportion of the swing provides a yielding resistance, which acts as abuffer for preventing shock to the moving parts of the device. In suchconstruction, the work exerted by the flexible conductor on the movablecontact for accelerating the movement or" the latter during-the initialportion of its swing is restored in, said conductor during the actionthereof in retardin the motion of the movable contact in the atterportion of its swing; the algebraic sum of such accelerating andretarding work during'a complete swing of the movable contact beingequal to zero. The flexible conductor N thus acts on both swin of themovable contact to accelerate its initial movement and to constitute ayielding bufl'er at the end of the spring movement the said portionsoperate to return the handle E and the conveyer F, to their open orclosed positions as the case may be. In other words m" and m prevent Eand F from sticking'or dwelling at the dead center of the springmovement. The said portions m and m are preferably incident to theopening movement.

made integral; they assist the snap opening and closing of the devicerespectively; and the latter is more easily compressed than the former.I

The part m" yieldingly actuates or accelerates the movable contactduring only a part'of the sna movement of the latter and the sprin J rstco-ac'ts with the spring m and t ereatter completes the opening movementunassisted. By this means the movable contact will have no radual orpart opening movement but ony a complete snap opening movement. The partm engages the part M after a prearranged movement of the operatinghandle; the former is laced under increasing stress as the part JE nearsthe dead center, and the parts are so adjusted and proportioned thatwhen m is fully compressed the energy stored therein starts thecooperative contacts apart with a quick snap movement andv preferablyirres ective of the opening power of the spring The spring-J meanwhileis brought into position to co-act with m and to complete the openingmovement.-' It will be noted however that the yielding art m could snapthe contacts apart and reak the circuit. The portions m contact beforetouching the part M and when the said parts touch their combinedyielding powers are applied to M I Other features are that the power ofthe spring J to snap the cooperative contacts apart may be decreased soas to reduce the opening shock while not lessening the arc rest-rictlngsnap movement. Or the yield ing means N may be made stronger or lesseasily compressed so as to decrease the shock 01' both of the last twomentioned features may be used to open the device with reduced shock.

From the above description, it will be seen that my invention providesan eflicient sary strains and operating with a minimum of friction.

form of electric switch free from unneces- I have illustrated anddescribed a preferred and satisfactory construction, but-,obviously,changes could be made.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new anddesire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device ofthe character described,

cooperative fixed and movable contacts, op-

said movable contact, during a portion of its movement. 5

2. In a device of'the character described,

the combination "offixed and movable contacts, operating means includinga yielding starter for imt ally starting the movable contact from itsextreme positions and reemcee silient means carried by said operatingmeans for actuating said movable contact during a portion only of itsmovement, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the character described, 7

the combination of fixed and movable contacts, means for actuating saidmovable'contact with a quick, snap act-ion, and a flexible conductor. soattached to the movable contact that it will be free from stress at themid portion of the travel of said movable contact, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a device ofthe character described,

the combination of fixed and movable con during another portion of suchtravel, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of fixed andmovable contacts, yielding means for actuating said movable contactswith a quick, snap action, and a flexible conductor secured to saidmovable contact for augmenting the force of said yielding means duringthe initial portion of the movement of the movable contact'and'opposing? the action of said yielding means during the latter portion'ofthe movement of said movable contact, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the character described,

the combination of fixed and movable contacts, means including ayielding starter for actuating said movable contact with a quick,

contact, yielding actuating means for swing ing said movable'jcontact'onits pivotal support with a quick, snap action, and a flexible conductorattached tosaid movable contact at a distance from said-pivotal support,and formed to bring its axis in line with the axis of the pivotalsupport,substantially as described. p

. 8. In a device of the character described,

-. the combination of fixed and movable contacts', a pivotal support forsaid movable a quick, snap-action, and'av flexible conductor ofresilient material connected to said movable contact for augmenting theforceof said actuating means during the initial portion of-the openingand closing swings of the movable contact, substantially as described.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of fixed andmovable contacts, a pivotal support for said movable I 'contact,actuating means for swinging said movable contact on its pivotal supportwith a quick, snap action, and a flexible conductor of resilientmaterial connected-to said movable contact-to augment the force of saidactuating means during the initial portion of the swing of the movablecontact and to constitute a yielding bufier for said movable contactduring the latter portion of its swing, substantially as described.

10. In a device of the character described,

the combination of fixed and movable contacts, a pivotal support forsaid movable contact, operating means constructed to engage said movablecontact in its extreme positions for shifting the latter therefrom, anda flexible conductor of resilientmaterial connected to said movablecontact to augment the action of said operating means duringthe initialportion of the swing of the movablecontact and to constitute a yieldingbufi'er for said movable contact during the latter portion of its swing,substantially as described. l

11. In a-device of the characterdescribed,

the combination of fixed and movable contacts, a pivotal support" forsaid movable contact,yielding actuating means for swinging saidmovable'contact on its pivotal support with a quick, snap action,operating means constructed toengage said movable contact in its extremepositionsfor shifting the latter therefrom, and a flexible conductor ofresilent material connectedto the movable contact for accelerating themovement of said movable contact during the initial portion of its swingand retarding such movement during the latter portion of its swing,substantially as described.

12. In a device of the character described, the'combination of fixed andmovable contacts, a pivotal support for said 'movable contact, yieldingactuating means including a yielding starter'for swinging said movablecontact on its pivotal support with a quick,

snap action, and resilient means for 'accelfor. tensioning said severalsprings to produce a greater aggregate tension there1n-130' during theclosing movement of the contact than in the opening movement thereof,substantially as described.

14. In a device of the character described, the combination of fixed andmovable contacts, a pivotal support for said movable contact, yieldingactuating means for swinging said movable contact on its pivotalsupport, and resilient means connected to said movable contact toaugment the force of said actuating means during the initial portion ofthe swing of the movable contact and to constitute a yielding butter forsaid movable contact during the latter portion of its swing, said partsbeing positioned to exert a greater force on the movable contact duringits swing to closed position than on its swing to open position,substantially as described.

15. In a device of the character described,

the combination of fixed and movable contacts, a pivotal support forsaid movable contact, a movable spring actuator, a plurality ofactuating springs connected to the said movable contact and actuator,and operating means for moving said actuator to bring all of saidsprings into action during the entire swing of the movable contact toclosed position and to maintain only a portion of said springs inaction'during the complete swing of the movable contact to openposition, substantially as described.

17. in a device of the character described. the combination of fixed andmovable contaots, a pivotal support for said movable contact, a housingarranged axially to said pivotal support, and a coiled flexibleeonductor within said housing and connected to said movable contact,substantially as described.

'18. in a device of the character described, the combination of fixedand movable contacts, a pivotal support for said movable substantiallyas described.

19. In a controllin means for electric circuits, a support,'anelectrical contact carried thereby, a cooperative movable contact, andmeans for operating the same,said means comprising an element foryieldingly actuating themovable contact during a predeterminedmoven'ient thereof, and an element for yieldinglv actuating said movablecontact duringionly portion of such predetermined movement. I

20. In a controllingmeans for electric circuits, a support,an-l'electrical contact carried thereby, a cooperative movable contact,and means for operating the same, said means comprising arr element foryieldingly actuatingjthe movable contact during a predetermined"movementthereof, and an element impelled (by the said operating means foryieldingly actuating the said movable contact through a portion of suchpredetermined movemcnt.

21. In a circuit controlling device, a suitable support, an electricalcontact carried thereby, a movable contact adapted to cooperate with thefirst-mentioned contact, yielding actuating means )ermanently connectedwith the said movabe contact, energizing means with which thd saidyielding actuating means is also permanently connected, said yieldinglyconnected parts having relative movement whereby the cooperativecontacts are urged together and apart with quick snap actions, andyielding means intormissively connecting the said energizing means withthe said movable contact and accelerating the initial portion of themovement of the latter.

22. In a circuit controlling device, a suitable support, an electricalcontact carried thereby, a movable contact adaptedv to coop erate. withthe first-mentioned contact, yielding actuating means operativelyconnected with the said movable contact, energizing means with which thesaid yielding actuating means is also operatively connected, saidyieldingly connected parts having a movement whereby the cooperativecontacts are urged together and apart with quick snap actions, andyielding means initially urging the cooperativecontacts apart during aprearranged portion of the opening movement thereof.

23. In a circuit controlling device, a suitable support, an electricalcontact carried thereby, a movable contact adapted to cooperate with thefirst-mentioned contact, yielding actuating means operatively connectedwith the said movable contact, energizing means with which the saidyielding actuating means is also .operativcly connected, said yieldinglyconnected parts having a relative movement whereby the cotiperativecontacts are urged together and apart with quick snap actions, andsupplemental yielding erate with the first-mentioned contact, a

plurality of yielding actuating means permanently connected with thesaid movable contact, energizing means with which the said yieldingactuating means is also permanently connected, said yieldingly connectedparts having relative movement whereby thecooperative contacts are urgedtogether and apart with quick snap-actions, and yielding meansintermissively urging the movable contact so that a pre-arrangedplurality of said yielding actuating means initially accelerate themovable contact and less than the said plurality of yielding meansaccelerate the movable contact during succeeding stages of its movement.

25. In a circuit controlling device, a suitable support, an electricalcontact carried there by, a rocking contact adapted to cooperate withthe first-mentioned contact, yielding actuating. means operativelyconnected .with the said rocking contact, energizing or tensioning meansWitll'WlliCh the said yield ing actuating means is also operatively connected, said yielding connections effecting a movement with greateryielding stress at the dead center than in the closed position of thedevice to urge the cooperative contacts together and apart with quicksnap actions, and supplemental yielding means ur ing'the said tensioningmeans away from he dead center of the opening movement and toward thenormal closed position of such tensioning means whereby the arts areprevented from 40 dwelling near the ead-center ofthe spring movement.April 26, 1906.

' JULIUS K. LUX.

Witnesses:

SIGMUND J. BLocK, J N0. M. CONWAY.

